Status of Hepatitis B Vaccination among the Health Care Workers of a Tertiary Hospital, Lahore

This study was carried out to assess the immunisation status among health care workers of a tertiary hospital and reasons for non-immunisation. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at Jinnah Hospital, Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore from May 2005 – July 2005. A total of 358 health care workers were selected using systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used after taking verbal consent from the respondents. All that 358 health care workers of different cadres were interviewed. Among them, 60% of the respondents were completely immunised against hepatitis B, 18% had incomplete immunisation and 22% had no immunisation at all. Main reasons for non immunisation are lack of motivation (38%) and high cost of the vaccine (28%). This is suggested that there should be 100% immunisation coverage of health care workers against hepatitis B by providing it free of cost and also making immunisation compulsory for them. Health care workers should be motivated by regular health education campaigns to improve their immunisation status.